0212 Thomas Hemerford, John Nutter, John Munden d. 1584

Thom and Jack,
Good morning, I love you
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February 12

Thomas Hemerford, John Nutter, John Munden all three d. 1584

A year ago on this blog I wrote ....

Imagine these men’s vocation. Called to be a priest – in their home such a vocation without kneeling to the queen of the house would be traitorous. Regardless of the monarch’s whim, will, power, perfidy, these men followed their vocation – a road that they knew would circle around again, back home, with the hope that their efforts of caring for their own and their people’s Catholicism would also find a time, place, change of the monarch’s heart – or else, exile or martyrdom….

Thomas Hemerford didn’t last long as a priest in England. Was it worth it? It? His vocation – his pursuit of his vocation, his giving himself to God’s will, not his monarch’s not his own – he made God’s will his own will. Sure beats making the homeland monarch’s will his will….

Thomas Hemerford was arrested soon after his return, condemned for being a priest, a Catholic with the will to profess his faith regardless of the monarch’s condemnation. He was hung drawn and quartered at Tyburn…..



Thomas Hemerford was a native of Dorsetshire. Thomas Hemerford was educated at Oxford. However, Thomas Hemerford had to then study for the priesthood at the English College, Rome. He was ordained in Rome in 1583.

Thomas Hemerford returned to England, where he was swiftly arrested. Condemned for being a priest, he was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn with four companions. He was beatified in 1929.


John Nutter was from Lancaster and was ordained at Reims in 1581.

John Munden, a native of Dorset, was ordained at Reims in 1582.

John Nutter and John Munden were martyred at Tyburn with three priest companions. Both were beatified in 1929.

Simple enough. Memorable I hope.

I love you,
Dad
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